NEW LONDON — Matthew Hanson testified on his own behalf Wednesday at his attempted murder trial, saying he stabbed another man in self-defense.

Hanson, 32, who lives in Pocasset, Mass., is accused of stabbing Shane Crawford on April 28, 2012, outside the home of Hanson's former girlfriend in Lebanon.

Hanson was the last witness at the trial in New London Superior Court in front of Judge Barbara Jongbloed.

Assistant State's Attorney David Smith and Hanson's attorney, Michael Blanchard, are expected to make closing arguments today, after which the jury of four men and two women will begin deliberating his guilt or innocence.

Hanson said that he had arrived at the house of his ex-girlfriend, Annie Morris, off Beaumont Highway shortly after 1 a.m. They argued, and he left after taking her cellphone and some other items. Hanson said he drove away, then decided to return to apologize.

He was on a long, one-lane road leading toward her house when Crawford, a neighbor of Hanson's who had volunteered to remove him from the property, drove toward him.

"My thought was I was going to be rammed," Hanson said. "At that point, I tried to move sideways out of my vehicle."

Hanson denied recognizing Crawford, whom Hanson said he met only once before.

He said the other vehicle stopped short in front of his and "a dark silhouette" got out of the other vehicle and charged him, left fist raised. Hanson said the attacker moved "belly to belly with him," pinned him against the side of his car and pressed his left forearm against his throat, making it hard for him to breathe.

"At that point, I reached into my pocket" and unfolded a knife with a three-inch blade he had there, Hanson said.

"In an entirely unheroic manner, I began flailing around," he said.

Hanson stabbed Crawford seven times in the back, according to medical testimony.

Hanson said Crawford, whom he said he still didn't recognize, backed off and ran into a nearby house. He said he returned to his car, backed up to leave, but stopped after about 20 feet, found his cellphone and called 911.

Smith questioned Hanson about differences in his testimony from what a police dashboard camera videotape shows he told state police immediately after the stabbing.

"You don't say anything about the choking, do you?" Smith asked. "You don't say anything there about being pinned against the car? … You don't say anything about almost blacking out?"

Hanson is charged with attempt to commit murder, first-degree assault, second-degree assault, second-degree larceny, sixth-degree larceny and second-degree criminal mischief. He faces up to 66 years in prison if he is convicted on all charges.